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BOSTON – The MBTA and its service contractors won’t be firing close to a third of the janitors who clean T stations and trains. Both the union representing the workers and MBTA management announced the proposed layoffs would be delayed indefinitely.

Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, the union representing the janitors, has for months been holding protests and working with sympathetic elected officials to stop the layoffs as part of a cost savings effort built into the current contract with cleaning service providers.

BOSTON/Copley Square – Following the Israeli assault on the Palestinian territories that began last month, pro-Palestinian activists picketed on the sidewalk between Copley Sq. and Boston Public Library on Saturday.

"Local Edition" is our ongoing series of twice a month audio newscasts sponsored by Open Media Boston and the WMBR Radio News Department.

In this episode, we feature stories on the offer made by MA Governor Deval Patrick to give sanctuary to some of the undocumented migrant children stranded in Texas. And thousands protest in Boston against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Plus our local news roundup and a commentary from a former school bus driver on the union's controversial public relations strategy.

BOSTON/State House - A large rally in Boston on Tuesday continued protests against the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian Territories that began earlier this month, and has reportedly claimed the lives of hundreds, including dozens of Palestinian civilians.

Pro-Choice Massachusetts – State HouseIn a statement released last week, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts thanked Gov. Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senate President Therese Murray, State Senator Harriette Chandler, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo for their efforts in filing the bill entitled, An Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities, which aims to address safety concerns that have arisen since the US Supreme Court struck down the Massachusetts buffer zone law.